Thermostatically-actuated valve



Julie 19, 192s. 1,674,473

' J. J. KENNEY v THERMOSTATICALLY ACTUATED VALVE vFiled May l2, 1926Patented June 19, 1928.

JOHN J. KENNEY, or PITTsBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FICE. j

THERMOSTATICALLY-ACTUATED VALVE. y

Application filed May 12,

The present invention rela-tes broadly to control valves, and moreparticularly to socalled quick-acting or snap action valves of the heatresponsive or thermostatic type adapted to control the supply of gas orthe like, although the utility of the invention is not limited withrespect to the particular use to which it is placed or the type of fluidhandled thereby.

At the present time there is a growing demand in the art for valveshaving the ability tof-mov`e quickly from a full open to a full closedposition. This. is particularly true with installations using, burners,such as Bunsen burners, in which there is a tendency toward flash backunder certain conditions of fuel flow. Snap action valves of a more orless complicated and lexpensive nature have hertofore been designed forthis purpose. and have been satisfactorily used to some extent, althoughin many cases the difficulty of accurate control has somewhat limitedtheir use.

In my copending application, Serial No. 758,567, there is disclosed animprovedtype `of valve of extremely simple construction and comprising.a relatively small number of parts. The .present invention embodiescertain ofthe features therein disclosed and, in addition thereto, meansfacilitating setting and operation of the valve.

In the accompanying drawings there y.shown for purposes of illustrationonly, a

preferred embodiment of the present invention, it being understood thatthe drawings do not define the limits of my vinvention as changes in theconstruction and operation disclosed therein may be made withoutdeparting either from" the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of {mybroader claims.

In the drawingS, i Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view -throughone form fof valve embodying the present invention, the valve beingshown in closed positi0n;. v

Figure 1A is aview'similar to Figure 1 showing the valve in openposition;

Figure 2 is a Vertical sectional view on the line II-II of Figure 1, andI Y.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line III-IIIof Figure 2.7

ln carrying out the present invention I there may be provided a valvecasing' 2 of any desired contour. but preferably so con-` structed as toprovide therein an inlet passage 3 and an outlet passage 4. Intermedi-1926. Serial No. 108,534.` v

atethe respective ports of these passages the casing may beprovided witha valve seat 5 for a valve 6 which is preferably normally urged againstthe seat in suitable manner as by a spring 7. l

The topl of the casing is closed by a removable cap 9 having formed theshaft 1l carries a cup 15 eccentrically.

disposed with respect to the axis of rotation of the shaft, wherebyrotation of the dial will be effective for changing the relationshipbetween the interior side walls of the Y cup shaped projection 15 andthe cylindrical boss 16 projecting upwardly from the valve.

vThis bos:` preferably projects al considerable distance into theeccentric cup or sleeve, and

. is preferably of enough smaller diameter than the interior diameter ofthe sleeve to permit,- not only easy entrance as setforth, but also topermit rotation of the sleeve. The spring y7' may be located within thesleeve 15 and may project at one end against the bottom thereof and atthe opposite end against the top of the bo:s 16.

Extending outwardly from one side of the. l

casing is an externally threaded projection 17 permitting thecasing' tobe secured to a suitable support. This projection has a longitudinalbore extending therethrough and through a thickened portion of the wallof the valve casing, the outer casing of the bore conveniently. beingscrew threaded for the attachment of the vtubular expansible member 18of the thermostatic element. Lo-

cated within the expansible member, in.

known manner, is the usual non-expansible element 19 such as porcelain,carbon or the like. `The non-expansible element may abut at its outerendagainst a cap 2O secured to theexpansible member, while at its inner endit abuts against a-t-hrust pin` 21 sliding in the bore of the projection17. This thrust pin may, if desired, be formed with sealinggroovesjaround its periphery,iwhere .by it forms a gas tight jointbetween the los interior of the valve casing and the interior i of thecxpausible member 18.

A valve operating lever 22 ma, be extended vertically in the casing anhave a suitable mounting therein such as indicated justably mounted in athreaded bore in the l carries a pin 26 has a portion which cooperates a\a similar 50 drawings.

55 ,any downward thrust by the oppositely projecting trunnions 23adjacent its lower end indicated as bearing on an annular ledge 24formed inthe lower portionofthe casin bevelled to a knife .edge adaptedto engage a shallow transverse groove25 in one face of the` lever 22,said knife ed e lying in a horizontal plane slightly a ove the axis ofthe trunnions 23.

threaded fulcrum 26 may be adthickened portion of the wall of the valvecasing diametrically opposite .the bore in which is mounted the pin. 21.This fulcrum mounted with a loose lit in a socket in its inner end,which pin is cone shaped at one end to engage in a shallow recess 27 inthe face of the lever 22 opposite the face containing the shallow groove25," 20 the point of Vthe pin 26 lying in a horizontal plane slightlybelow the axis of the trunnions 23. This loose fitting pin permits the'valve operating lever to oscillate without lundue friction or curacy 1nmachining of the parts. The lever 22 has its upperend extending withinthehollow boss 16 of the valve and of its upper endshaped to ,provide aninclined bearing surface 28 with downwardly projecting stem 29 formed.on the under surface of the boss 16. Adjacent the inclined portion 28 ofthe lever 22, there 1s formed a fiat seating surface 31 adapted toreceive the stem 29 under predetermined conditions,s of opera-.

tion as hereinafter set forth. 0 Y

The lever 22 is also formed ad]acent its u per end with a stud-`32projectinga suita le distance from the` face of the lever, preferablysubstantially in alinement with Ktud 33y n the inner wallof the casingwhereby thel studs are adapted to re`- ceive and support a coil spring34 normally acting on the lever 22 in such manner as to tend to swing itin a counter-clockwise direction about the knife edge ofthe pin 21, as'

viewed, for example, "in- Figure 1 of the When the valve is closed,thenormal position `of the parts will be as indicated inFigure 1.- Thetrunnions 23, resting on the ledge 24, support the weight of the leverand take thereon due tothe pressure of the valve-on its upper end.

It will thus be seen that the point of the pin26 and the knife edge ofthe thrust pin '.21 arefnot subjected to any downward pres- 00 suretransmitted through the lever' 22.

-When `the expansible member 18 of the thermostat contracts, the pin 21will be forced to the right, as viewedl inxFigure 1 of the drawings,thereby causing the lever 22 to 05 rock in a clockwise direction aboutthe point rIlhe pinJ 21., preferably as indicated, for example, inFigure .1A The valve will remain in its binding between the trun- 25nions 23 and the seat 24, and also facilitates assembly withoutnecessitating absolute acafter, anyyfurther increase vthereby permittingthe spring 34 to rock jable working temperature range.

of the pin 26 asa fulcrum. Due to the relative lengths of the lever'arms,a comparatively slight movement of the pin 21 will result in amuch greaterl movement of the upper end of the valve operating lever.The

`first portion of this movement causes the valve 6 to slide bodily onits seat 5 until the yboss 16 contacts with the side a of the. sleeve'15, such cont-act preventing any further bodily Alateral movement of thevalve. The valve lever 22, however, continues its movement under theiniuence/of the thermostatic control, and gradually builds up anincreasing pressure between the stem 29 and the in- `Vcl1ne 28. Thiscondition continues until the pressure is sufficient to overcome thefriction between these parts plus the action of the spring 7 whereuponthe valve 6 snaps vertically from its seat as will be clearly apparent,the stem 29 positioning itself upon the flat upper portion 31 of thevalve leve;

the drawings. open position of this figure until the desired temperaturehas been attained in accordance with the setting of the thermostat.Therein the temperature will cause expansion ofthe member 18, the valvelever 22 to the` left or in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFigure 1 of the drawings, about the point of the pin 26 as a' fulcrum,said lever forcing the thrust pin into the bore of the projection 17.The first part ofv this counter-clockwise movement of the valve leverwill result 'in a bodily y lateral movement ofthe valve to the left, aslviewed in Figure 1A of the drawings, due to the friction between thestem 29 andthe end of the valve lever until such time as the boss 16engages the left hand side b of the sleeve 15, thereby stopping furthermovement-of the valve, Thereafter, continued counter-clockwise movementofthe lever 22 will result in'relative movement between the lever andthe valve to establish a condition in which the action of the spring 7,in combination with the character of the contacting surfaces between thevalve and lever causes the valve toy move bodily to the right as viewedin Figure 1^- and downwardly onto its seat with a snap action.

It will be appreciatedthat the valve, when -in its closed position, canslide at will, on'its seat within predetermined limits as permitted bythe difference between the external diameter of diameter of the sleeve15. ment of the valve with the lever 22 is permitted also when the valveis in open position. This lost motion is providedA in order to allow thevalve to remain in either its closed or its open position through asuitr When the Valve is closed, it will assume some normal the boss 16and the 'internal Similar move- `vary the effective temperature rangeWithin which the valve remains either in its open or its closedposition. In the construction herein illustrated this may be easilyaccomplished by the mounting of the sleeve ec'- centrically on itsoperating shaft 10, inasmuchas rotation ofthe dial 12 under suchconditions Will result in varying the dimensional change in the heatresponsive means required' for operating the valve. Due to the locationof the dial, it is readily accessible, .thereby permitting the desiredadjustment to be quickly made.

It Will also be understood that`itA is necessary, irrespective of thetemperature mange' Within which the valve operates, to provide effectivemeans for varying the setting of the thermostat. This may heaccomplished by adjusting the fulcrum pin 26. To that end,

" the fulcrum pin may be provided on its and the operating cam on thevalve. this,

outer end with a disk-like Yhead 35 having a handle 36, whereby the pinmay be easily turned. On this head there may be placed suitableindicatingr means adapted for cooperation with graduations on the valvecasing. Theladjustment for the fulcrum pin may be protected by providinga threaded extension on the valve casing adapted to receive an enclosingcap 37. By removing this cap, the desiredadjustment of thel thermostatmay be quickly effected. A

In my copending application referred to, I haveclaimed broadly themechanism by means of which the snap action of the valve is obtained,the claims of the present applicavtion being .directed particularly toa. snap action valve having, for example, the charactei'istics referredto and provided With means vwhereby the effective temperature `range maybe easily adjusted irrespective of the setting of the thermostat.

From the foregoing it Will-be apparent that the present.' construct'onprovides a valve having a stem which consttutes, in effect, an operatingcam', with which cooperates a lever constituting an operating member.The construction is such that initially there is a simultaneous-movementbetween the operating member with its cam simultaneous movement being ina lateral direction as et forth. Thereafter, the simultaneous movementceases and a relative movement occurs due to the cooperative ac`v tionof the cams. The eccentric Varies the amount of simultaneous movementand thereby enables accurate control of the period at which. relativemovement occurs. Inasmuch as the relative movement is responsible foreither permitting or cutting off the flow of the fluid being controlled,such adjustment will, as pointed out, determine the effective rangeWithin which. the valve .will remain either in open position or inclosed position. t

In many ranges it is desirable to provide a valveV of such nature thatthe oven temperature may be easily and quickly controlled 'and alsovaried at will Within comparatively Wide limits. The present valve,Whether constructed to operate as a snap action valve for as a slowoperating valve of ordinary characteristics, may be easily adjusted tovary the temperatures at which. the opening and closing movements areeffected While maintaining asubstantially constant range `required forthe change from closed to open position or vice' versa.

Certain advantages of the present invention arise from the combinationwith a snap action valve, of means whereby the range within which thevalve is effective either for permitting flow of the 'fluid or forcutting off such flow, may he varied at Will.

Still other advantages of the invention l arise from the combination ofa regulating valve which, if desired, may be of the snap action typewith means for, adjusting not only its effective temperature range butalso the initial setting by means of which one limit of such range isdetermined.

I claim: l

1. Inla valve mechanism, a valve casing having a seat, a valvecooperating with said seat, a valve o erating lever, a fulcrumoperatively associated with said lever adja cent one end thereof, a;heat responsive means effective on said lever, means for moving saidlever in vopposition to 'said heat responsive means, a hollow boss onsaid valve into which the other end of said lever projects, said bosshaving a stein ,projecting therefrom and said last mentioned end of thelever having a cam surface cooperating with said stem, a sleeve yWithinwhich said boss projects and having a greater internal diameter than theexternal. diameter of said boss, means for varying the effectiveposition of said sleeve, and means normally urging said valve toward itsseat.

2. In a valve mechanism, a valve casing having a seat, a valvecooperating lwith said seat, a valve operating lever, a fulcrumoperatively associated with said lever adjacent one end thereof, a heatresponsive means effective on said lever, means for moving said lever inopposition to Said heat responsive means, a hollow boss ou said valveinto which the other end of Said lever projects, said boss having a stemprojecting therefrom and. said last mentioned end of the lever having acam surface cooperating with said stem, an eccentric sleeve within whichsaid boss projects and having a greater internal diameter thanv theexternal diameter of said boss, means for adjusting the" position ofsaid sleeve, and means vnormally urging said valve toward its seat. v

3. In a valve mechanism, a casing, a valve having an operating cammovable ineither of two directions, an operating member for said lvalvehaving a cam cooperating with said operating cam, means for moving saidvoperating member to effect bodily movement o'f said operating cam firstin one direction vand then in another direction, and means for varying,at will, the extent of said first mentioned bodily movement.

4. In a valve mechanism, a casing, a valve having an operating cammovable in either of two, directions, an operating member for said valvehaving a cam cooperating with j said operating cam, means for movingsaidA operating member to effect bodily movement' of the operating cam,first in onel direction and then in another direction, and adjustablemeans eccentrically cooperating with 'sa-id valve for varying theconditions under which said operating member will become effective. l

bodily tion and then in another direction,

5. In avalve mechanism, a casing, a valve having an operating cammovable in either of Atwo directions,`a n operating member for saidvalve having .cam cooperating with said operating cam, heat responsivemeans for movingsaid operating member to effectl movement of saidoperating cam first in onevdirection and then in another irection, andmeans for varying, at will, the temperature range of saidy firstmentioned bodily movementl V l 6. In a valve mechanism, a casing, avalve having an operating cam movable in either of `two directions, anoperating. member for saidvalve having a cam cooperating with saidoperating cam', `heat responsive means for moving said operating memberto effect bodily movement of the operating cam, first in one directionand then in another direction and adjustable means eccentricallycooperating with said valve for varying the conditions under which saidoperating member will become effective.

7. In a valve mechanism, a casing, a valve normally tending to Amove inone direction and having an operating cam movable 1n either of twodirections, an operatingmember for said valve having acam cooperatingwith said'operating cam, means for moving said operating member toeffect bodily movement of the operating cam, first in one direcjustablemeans for determining the tempera- -in another direction, means turerange within which said bodily movement takes place.

8: In a valve mechanism, a valveIl casing having a valve seat, a vvalvecooperating with said seat, a valve operating member, cam

surfaces between vsaid `meiiber and said valve,A .means for moving saidmember to 'initially produce simultaneous movement ofy said cam-surfacesand the relative movement thereof, and means for varying the position ofsaid first mentioned movement to vary the period of. relative movementbetween said cam surfaces. f

' 9. In a valve mechanism, a valve casing having a valve seat, a valvecooperating with said seat, al valve operating member, cam

surfaces between said member andsaid valve, hea-t responsive means formoving lsaid member to initially produce simultaneous movement of Saidcam surfaces and the relative movement thereof, and ,mea-ns' for'varyingthe position of said first mentioned' movement to vary the period ofrelative movement between said cam surfaces.

' 10. In avalve mechanism, a` casing, a

valve havingan operating cam movable in either of two directions, anoperating `member for said valve having a ca m cooperating with saidoperating cam, temperatureresponsive means for moving said operatingmember to effect bodily movement of the operating cam, first in onedirection and then posit-ion at which movement in said firstdirection-takes place, and means for varying the temperat-ure at whichysaid temperature responsive means becomes effective.,

` 11. In a valve mechanism, a valve casing having a valve seat, a valvecooperating with said seat, a valve operating member,

-cam surfaces between said' member and said valve, temperatureresponsive means for moving said member to initially producesimultaneous movement osaid cam surfaces and the relative movementthereof,\'and means eccentric withsaid valve for varying for varying theIlm the temperature at which said temperature responsive means becomeseffective.

.12. Ina valve,mechanisin, a valve casing having a valve seat, a valvecooperating with said seat, a valve operatingmember, means l for movingsaid member, cams between said member and said valve, whereby movementsof said member are effective to operate said valve, one of said camshaving an initial limited movement in onedirection with the other and alimited movement in another direction relative to the other, lwhereby.there `is an initial lost motion between the cams,l

and means operable atpwill for varying. the temperature at which. said4lost motion 'takes place. u i.

13. In a valve mechanism, a valve casing having a valve seat, a valvecooperating with said seat, a valve operatingl member, temperatureresponsive means for 'moving said member, cams between said mem-ber andsaid valve whereby movements of said member are effective to operatesaid valve, one of said cams having an initial limited move-r ment inone direction with theother and a limited movement in. another directionrelativeto the other whereby there is an initial lost motion between thecams, and means operable at will for varying the temperature at whichsaid lost motion takes place.

14C. Ina valve mechanisma valve casing having a valve seat, a valvecooperating with said seat, a valve operating lever, cam surfacesbetween said lever and said valve, heat responsive means for moving saidlever to initially produce simultaneous movement of said cam surfacesand the relative movement thereof, and means exteriorly of said casingforvarying the position of such simultan neous movement.

- bodily movement of the operating cam, and

adjustable means eccentrically cooperating with said valve for varyingthe conditions under which said operating member will become effective.

17. In a valve mechanism, a casing havin a valve seat, a. valvecooperating withv sai seat, operating means for said valve, andadjusting means {eccentrically cooperating with said valve for varyingat will the time of operation tliereoiffsaid adjusting means beingcapable of adjustment without moving said valve. l e

18. In aI valve mechanism, a. valve casing having a valve seat, avalvecooperating with said seat, a heat responsive valve opera-ting means,and means ecc'entrically cooperatingwith said valve for varying thetemperature at which said heat responsive means is operative, said lastmentioned means being capable of adjustment without moving said valve.

19. In a valve mechanism, a valve casing having a valve seat, a valvecoopera-ting with said seat, a heat responsive valve operating member,there being a cam surface between said operating member and said valve,andl means for varying at will the effective relation between saidoperating member and cam surface, said last mentioned meanseccentrically cooperating with said valve and 05 being capable ofadjustment Without moving saidvalve. a

20. In a valve mechanism, a casing, a valve having an o-perating cam, anoperating membeii-fo'r `said valve having a. cam coopei- 70 ating withsaid operating cam, meansL for moving said opra-ting member to effectbodily movement of the operating cam, and adjustable means eccentricallycooperating with saidvvalve and Ibeing capable of adjustment Withoutmoving said operating member, said operating member being controlled bytemperature variations.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

\ JOHN J. insinuar,

